Apr 18, 2018

Alumni Profile: ArnonCreating community through music

Our alumni are working in ways small and large to make an impact in their communities. This “Alumni Profiles” blog series will feature some of our over 7,000 changemakers in 27 countries around the world who are working to transform conflict.

Arnon, who goes by his stage name Sun Tailor, is a 2018 GATHER Fellow. Right before the Fellowship program kicked off in Sweden, he talked with us from his self-described “music cave” in Jaffa about what he hopes to accomplish as part of the program.

Seeds of Peace: Tell us about your journey to where you are now.

Sun Tailor: When I was 23, I moved from Israel to London to study music, that’s when Sun Tailor came into existence. Then I toured in India after my first album, and I found my “why”—the thing that gets me excited about making music. Seeing people come together, get excited together, live and talk about something together … every night in India I was happiest when I got to be the person making that happen. I tour all over the world, and I do it because that is what matters to me. That’s my passion, the biggest contribution I can offer.

Seeds of Peace: Can you talk about the work you aim to do as a GATHER Fellow?

Sun Tailor: My project is a music workshop that brings together high schoolers in Israel and in the Palestinian territories—the Jewish schools, the Arab schools, everyone we can get—to experience the other side through music. It’s about acknowledging the power of music as language.

I’m a proud Israeli; I’m passionate about living here, and I’ve been thinking about what I can do to contribute. The workshop came from the idea of people coming together, singing together, clapping together—sharing a language beyond nationalism or religion. The best thing I can give to the world is connecting people to a shared experience, using the power of music to open up hearts and minds. To create a community out of nothing, without words.

It’s not about solving a political issue. I’m not a politician, I don’t have political answer. But I have a human answer. If we can see each other as human, as the same, we’ll be much better at solving the problem.

Seeds of Peace: What is your superpower?

Sun Tailor: Music! It is a real superpower. It heals people internally—I use it on myself as well. When I sit down with a guitar, it can change my state for the better. In my own personal journey, even if no one sees it, something strong can happen. It’s that feeling after exercising or playing a sport, but it’s on a spiritual level. It’s a workout for the soul.

Seeds of Peace: How did you first hear about Seeds of Peace?

Sun Tailor: There was a Mic and Pen event [a Seeds of Peace-piloted initiative to engage musicians and other artists in conflict transformation] here in Jaffa that I was invited to, then an artists’ retreat in the south of Israel that I joined. It was amazing to collaborate with all sorts of artists—Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish. I actually recorded a song with Saz, a Palestinian rapper I met through Mic and Pen, and we’re currently finishing production on it.

Seeds of Peace: If your life was a TV show, book, movie, song or album, which would it be?

Hmmm, that’s a good question. I’m not sure—it’s not really a comedy, it’s not fantasy or science fiction. That doesn’t leave many options, does it? I hope it’s an epic and not a melodrama!

Seeds of Peace: What are you most excited about going into the GATHER Fellowship program in Sweden?

Sun Tailor: I’m excited to meet other people in a similar situation as I am, where they’re social entrepreneurs and they want to create positive change. To be able to come together with a group of people is very powerful. And yes, I’m bringing my guitar!

You can check out Sun Tailor’s tour dates on www.suntailor.com. Questions or comments? Let us know below!